ACE RUBBED HIS arm, trudging along after Roarke and Ciri, his shoes kicking up gravel as he went. Rem was staggering after him singing, 'I'm a little teapot'.

A white house rose up from the darkness, its second story reflecting back images of themselves - glass windows.

Ciri slipped off Roarke's back, before he shifted back into a human.

"Welcome to my lair," he drawled, shifting into a kookaburra as he laughed evilly.

Ciri chuckled, ascending the stairs.

Roarke unlocked the door, stepping inside. Ace followed, glancing behind him to see that Rem had passed out on the lawn.

"Brilliant," he muttered.

Roarke flicked on a light switch, bathing them all in a golden glow. CDs lined the hallway, Three Days Grace, Breaking Benjamin and Muse staring up at him.

"Wow, this place is huge," Ciri commented, moving further into the house.

Ace turned to his left, moving towards the lounge room. He turned on the light, before slamming up a forcefield that surrounded himself, Ciri and Roarke in a tight bubble.

"Hey!" Ciri said, spinning around, before her eyes widened.

The bald man rose from the couch, walking towards them.

His Speed Demon bodyguards ran forwards, slamming their hands into Ace's shield repeatedly, searching for gaps.

Ace glared at the bald man.

It was such a shame that you had to go to them, tell them, the bald man said regretfully, shaking his head. I could have left you alive, but after this I'm afraid...

"What's he saying to you?" Ciri demanded, walking towards Ace.

"He's going to kill me, too," Ace said, his voice cold. "Thanks for the heads up."

I'll give you one more chance, Ace. If you drop the shield, I'll make it quick, painless.

"Get bent," Ace snapped.

The bald man narrowed his eyes, before a high pitched whistle burst through Ace's head. He cried out, slamming his hands to his ears, but the noise pulsed in his head, making it spike with pain.

"Ciri! A plan would be really helpful right now!" he said between clenched teeth, struggling to keep the shield up.

The noise doubled in his mind, his head flaring with pain. He groaned, struggling to concentrate.

"Ace!" Ciri shouted over the noise, and he glanced down at her. "Keep hold of the shield."

Oh right, he was holding up a shield. What was he holding it up against?

As if on cue, one of the Speed Demons leapt from the shadows, his hands slamming against the pressurised air.

Ace let out a cry, checking his shield. It was completely closed off.

The Demon ran around the perimeter with lightning-fast speed, running into the shied again.

"How many are there?" he shouted in disbelief, his eyes never leaving the determined men.

"Two," Ciri replied. "How can we get out?"

Ace checked his position. He was in a house foyer, the door less than three metres away.

"Can you move the shield?" she asked.

Ace shook his head. "I can't move shields. They're like brick walls. And I can only make one at once.

"Roarke! Get over here!" Ciri called over her shoulder and a tall boy - Roarke, Ace remembered - appeared to his left. "Ace, can you drop the shield, then rebuild it so that we can get out to Rem?"

"Where's Rem?" he asked, frowning.

"On the lawn outside."

He exhaled. "Okay. On three...one, two…three!"

He dropped the shield, and they rushed forwards, the Demon appearing behind them instantly. Ace threw it back up, this time encasing the entire front lawn and the gravel drive, extending as far as he could manage - a good five miles.

Ciri smiled at him. "You are amazing."

He returned the smile, walking over to Rem. "Hey, get up, buddy."

Rem moaned, sitting up as he clutched his head. "Where am I? Whoa, who are-?"

"I doesn't matter," Ciri interrupted, cutting him off. "We need to get away from here fast."

"Where to?" he asked.

"Abby's house," Roarke replied.

"Abby?"

"My friend. I'll lead. Just follow me."

Roarke led the way, the group trailing after him.

Slowly, Roarke's house faded into the background, and the whining noise filling his head became a constant distraction. He placed a palm to his ear, wincing.

"Oh, shit," Ciri said, digging into her pocket.

She withdrew an iPod, handing it to him.

"Put it on full volume," she ordered him.

"But, that-"

"Do it!"

He glared, but put the earbuds in his ears, glancing down at the screen. The small print of 'Supermassive Black Hole' flashed across it. The song fired up, the guitar giving him a headache.

"Hurry up!" Ciri snapped, and Roarke pushed himself into a jog. Ace picked up his pace.

Soon, Ace was out of breath, and the headache had progressed into a migraine. He groaned, doubling over as he panted.

"His brain can't take much more stress," Ciri said, worry lining her tone as she turned to Roarke. "It wants to rest, to let him heal. It's taking too much effort to keep the shield up."

"What can we do?" Roarke asked, glancing as Ace with anxious eyes. "If you knock him out, he'll lose conciousness and drop the shield. If he drops the shield, we'll die."

Ciri eyed Ace, and he squinted back at her, his lungs burning and perspiration dripping into his eyes.

"Can you carry him?" she asked, her eyes not leaving him.

"Yeah," Roarke replied.

"Then get ready to catch him," she muttered, snatching Rem's bottle away. Rem made a sound of disapproval, but didn't pursue it.

She shoved the bottle towards Ace. "Drink it."

He eyed the bottle warily. There was only a quarter left, but it would knock him off his face.

"Are you sure?" he asked. "I could drop the shield-"

"You won't," Ciri interrupted, curling his fingers around the bottle. "Just remember that you have to keep the shield up. Chant it to yourself."

Keep the shield up. Right.

Ace raised the bottle to his lips, hesitating. Ciri eyed him expectantly.

Keep the shield up.

Ace took a gulp, wincing at its fiery taste.

Keep the shield up.

"All of it," Ciri encouraged.

Keep the shield up.

Ace finished the bottle, releasing it. It smashed on the road beside him.

Keep...keep the...

He slumped forwards, Roarke just managing to catch him before he face-planted.

"The shield's still up," Ciri commented. "Now let's move."

Keep the...shield? Yeah, the shield. Keep the shield up. The pretty, glimmering shield.

Ace chuckled, watching the houses race past as the group picked up to a sprint.

"How much further?" Ciri demanded angrily.

"Next street," Roarke replied.

Slowly, everything faded to a dull blur, the world quieting around him. Ace smiled, relaxing.

"Almost there."